Passing from the Judicates to the Aragon and Spanish period, Sardinia is turned into a feudal territory and lands are mainly granted to powerful Iberian families. This is how the feudal aristocracy was born on the island, loyal to the sovereign and militarily and economically active in military campaigns. Sardinian families were entrusted with lower administrative tasks, which contribute to the establishment of local notables. In 1720, the Savoy family started ruling over the Kingdom of Sardinia and aimed at reducing the power of the great feudal lords. In rural areas, family groups emerge who control the rural and social spheres: some of these were granted noble ranks.

The latter is enforced through the Inquisition’s tribunal first based in Cagliari and later in Sassari. To widespread their control on the territory, the role of the Familial of the Holy Office was introduced.

The administration of civil and criminal justice is one of barons’ privileges and its extent depends on the type of concession made by the sovereign to feudal lords.

In 1564, to stop the overwhelming power of barons in the administration of justice, the Spanish king Philip II established the court of the Royal Audience, a court of appeal for the cases between vassals, villages and feudal lords.

Some reconstructions of the most used torture instruments and a replica of the Carta de Logu of the Judicate of Arborea are also available in the room.

In this room, special relevance is given to the panels about the Diocese of Ales, the so-called Tappa di Insinuazione, whose purpose was to deal with and organise notarial deeds, and the panels about the architecture of the territory. At the centre of the room, a diorama shows the location of the existing and missing villages.

In addition, this room also shows the reconstruction of two noble outfits for men and women, a collection of stamps and seals, and other tools for measuring weights.

Your visit is enriched by some ancient books on nobility, as well as other documents and objects that belonged to local noble families and a collection of antique weapons donated by their descendants.

This room has a dual function: engaging the younger generations in the history of the area and allowing more experienced scholars to find all the information needed for genealogical research and investigations.